By Marilyn Jozwik
As we were leaving a recent performance of Sunset Playhouse’s “Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical,” we heard one audience member exclaim, “I wish I would have had nuns like that in school.”
Indeed, the fun-loving Little Sisters of Hoboken don’t resemble the stern, black-and-white-clad women many Catholics remember.
If you’re a regular theater-goer, you’ve probably seen one of Dan Goggin’s “Nunsense” shows. There are nine of them, including one in which men play the roles of the sisters, one that sends the sisters to Hollywood, even a Yiddish version that sees the nuns stepping in at the last minute to perform “Fiddler on the Roof.”
The sisters in “Nuncrackers” are producing a cable TV Christmas special that includes the dubious talents of the Reverend Mother (Paula Garcia) and several of the other sisters including Mary Hubert (Heather Houdlett), Robert Anne (Margaret Teshner), Mary Paul (Veronica B. Tooke) and Mary Leo (Nya Cymone Udengwu). Joining the good sisters are Fr. Virgil (Jack Lynch) and five students from Mt. Saint Helen’s School: Louise (Katie Kriegl), Maria (Aubrey Reuter), Billy (Ilyana Mallegni), John (Louisa Glick-Johnson) and Francis (Alice Paff). Beth Burrows directs.
There are loads of merriment, mishaps and music that have made the “Nunsense” franchise so popular. There is nary a serious moment to be had (OK, maybe a couple), so wear something loose and get ready for a sack full of belly laughs
Children from Mt. Saint Helen’s School join the sisters and Fr. Virgil for the opening of their cable TV special in the basement of St. Helen’s School in a scene from Sunset Playhouse’s “Nuncrackers.” Photo by Katrina Smith
Tooke as Sister Mary Paul, aka Sister Amnesia, gets the ball rolling as she dispenses hilarious Secret Santa gifts to several audience members. Tooke, whose Sister Amnesia is more ditsy than forgetful, engages wonderfully with the audience and delivers a charming “Santa Ain’t Coming to Our House” with a Dolly Parton voice. She also leads the students in cute malaprop carols, which the audience loved.
As Sister Mary Annette, Odengwu leads a wall of puppets in a rousing, nicely delivered “Twelve Days Prior to Christmas.”
Another highlight of Act One is Garcia’s Reverend Mother’s song about growing up in the carnival, “A Carnival Christmas.” Garcia is a natural as the head of this rowdy bunch and is perfect for the many song-and-dance tunes. Her ad libs and comic timing make her scenes notable, including the very funny Catholic Home Shopping Service bit with Fr. Virgil.
Sisters Mary Paul (Veronica B. Tooke), Robert Anne (Margaret Teshner) and Mary Hubert (Heather Houdlett) perform a jazzy “The Three Kings” in a scene from Sunset Playhouse’s “Nuncrackers.” Photo by Katrina Smith
Zietlow’s Fr. Virgil tackles the riotous “Sister Julia’s Cavalcade of Christmas Cooking.” Sister Julia, Child of God, who had poisoned 52 nuns at one time, cannot be part of the cooking segment so Fr. Virgil takes over and ends up drinking most of the rum for the fruitcake he’s making. You can imagine how that goes!
“The Nutcracker Ballet” to end Act One is a brief version featuring nuns in tutus and other costumes to bring laughs rolling right into intermission.
Houdlett, Teshner and Tooke, as Sisters Hubert, Robert Anne and Amnesia, render a fun and jazzy “The Three Kings,” featuring a salad-shooter among the gifts and shopping bags from Harrod’s.
Perhaps the highlight of the night is “In the Convent,” a Village People sort of number that features Houdlett’s Sister Hubert doing a Tina Turner-like C-O-N-V-E-N-T, and “YMCA”-like letter recreations. A real crowd-pleaser!
Fr. Virgil (Matthew Zietlow) takes over “The Cavalcade of Christmas Cooking” for Sister Julia, Child of God, with hilarious results in a scene from Sunset Playhouse’s “Nuncrackers.” Photo by Katrina Smith
Houdlett comes back with another audience favorite as she belts out “It’s Better to Give” with real flare.
The kids did well with their tunes and movements, especially in “The First Noel” piece, but could have used a bit more volume. Enjoyed the sword fight with the prince and mice in “The Nutcracker Ballet.”
Music director and keyboardist Mark Mrozek gets lots of sound and variety from two keyboards and percussion. There are nearly a couple dozen numbers for nearly non-stop music and dance.
To wrap up this perfect holiday gift is an audience sing-along that sends everyone into the holiday spirit. And if that weren’t enough, a light dusting of snow greeted audience members as they left.
If you go:
Who: Sunset Playhouse
What: “Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical”
When: Through Dec. 21
Where: 700 Wall St., Elm Grove
Info/Tickets: SunsetPlayhouse.com/262-782-4430